ANTON CHEKHOV’UN THE CHERRY ORCHARD VE JOHN OSBORNE’UN LOOK BACK IN ANGER OYUNLARINDA SOSYAL SINIF KAVRAMININ KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI
Öz
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov’un alt, orta ve üst sınıftan
kahramanların 20. yüzyıl başındaki hayatlarını anlattığı The Cherry Orchard adlı oyunu, birbirinden oldukça farklı bu
toplumsal gruplar arasında yaşanan çatışmayı yansıtır. Köleliğin
kaldırılmasından yaklaşık kırk yıl sonra, Madam Ranevsky ile temsil edilen Rus
soylu sınıfı ekonomik gücünü kaybetmişti; böylece görkemli geçmişin son sembolü
olan vişne bahçesi de sınıf bakımından yükselişe geçen ve Lopahin ile
özdeşleştirilen orta sınıf tarafından satın alınma durumuna gelmişti. Bu iki
sınıf arasında devam eden çatışma esnasında, eski değerleri yaşatan alt sınıf,
tıpkı yaşlı Firs’in oyun sonunda unutulması gibi geride bırakılır. Sonuçta
herkes için kökten değişiklikler getiren yeni bir dönem başlamaktadır.
John Osborne’un Look
Back in Anger oyununa baktığımızda ise toplum içindeki çatışmanın alt ve
orta sınıflar üzerine yoğunlaştığı görülür. Eşi Alison’a duyduğu büyük aşka
rağmen Jimmy, alt sınıftan gelen geçmişini, eşinin orta sınıf geçmişiyle bir
türlü barıştıramamaktan kaynaklanan kendi iç karmaşalarıyla baş edemez. Bu
yüzden öfkesi bir türlü yatışmaz. Alison’un bebeğinin ölmesini istemesi ve
yakın arkadaşı Helena ile ilişki yaşaması da bu yüzdendir. Bu hayattaki bütün
kötülüklerin sorumlusu orta sınıftan insanlarken, Cliff bu duruma umursamazlığı
ve odanın içinde tembel tembel oturmasıyla destek olur. Jimmy’e göre bütün iyi
özellikler ve değer yargıları işçi sınıfında mevcuttur. Geçmişine duyduğu
saplantı yanında geçmiş nesillerin hatalarını telafi etme konusunda taşıdığı
sorumluluk Jimmy’nin geleceğe bakmasına engeldir. Her şeye rağmen oyunun
sonunda Alison’un geri dönüşü ve çiftin arasındaki aşk oyununun yeniden
başlaması gelecek için halen umut olduğuna işarettir.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov John Osborne The Cherry Orchard Look Back in Anger alt sınıf orta sınıf sosyal çatışma değişim
Kaynakça
- BAEHR Stephen: (1999). “The Machine in Chekhov’s Garden: Progress and Pastoral in the Cherry Orchard”, The Slavic and East European Journal, 43, pp. 99–121.
- BARRICELLI Jean-Pierre: (1981). “Counterpoint of the Snapping String: Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard”, Chekhov’s Great Plays: A Critical Anthology, New York: New York University Press.
- BECKERMAN Bernard: (1971). “Dramatic Analysis and Literary Interpretation: The Cherry Orchard as Exemplum”, New Literary History, 2, pp. 391–406.
- BRAUN Edward: (2003). “The Cherry Orchard”, The Cambridge Companion to Chekhov, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
- CHEKHOV Anton Pavlovich: (1964). Chekhov: The Major Plays. Translated by Ann Dunnigan. New York, Signet Classics.
- DEER Irving: (1958). “Speech as Action in Chekhov’s ‘The Cherry Orchard’”, Educational Theatre Journal, 10, pp. 30–34.
- DYSON A. E.: (1968). “General Editor’s Comments,” John Osborne, Look Back in Anger: A Casebook, London, Macmillan.
- EVDOKIMOVA Svetlana: (2000). “What’s so Funny about Losing One’s Estate, or Infantilism in ‘The Cherry Orchard’”, The Slavic and East European Journal, 44, pp. 623–648.
- FERGUSSON Francis: (1967). “The Cherry Orchard: A Theater Poem of the Suffering of Change”, Chekhov: A Collection of Critical Essays, New York: Prentice-Hall.
- GOLDSTONE, Herbert: (1982). Coping With Vulnerability: The Achievement of John Osborne, New York: University Press of America.
- HAHN Beverly: (1979). Chekhov: A Study of the Major Stories and Plays, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- OSBORNE John: (1966). Look Back in Anger: A Play in Three Acts, London: Faber and Faber.
- ÖZTÜRK Emel: (1993). “Class Hate into Sexual Hate in Look Back in Anger”, MA Dissertation, Bilkent University.
- QUIGLEY Austin E.: (1997). “The Personal, The Political and The Postmodern in Osborne’s Look Back in Anger and Déjavu”, John Osborne: A Casebook, New York, Garland Publishing.
- TAYLOR John Russell: (1968). John Osborne, Look Back in Anger: A Casebook, London, Macmillan.
- TRUSSLER Simon: (1969). The Plays of John Osborne: An Assessment, London, Victor Gollancz.
- VALENCY Maurice: (1966). The Breaking String: The Plays of Anton Chekhov, New York, Oxford University Press.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE SOCIAL CLASS CONCEPT IN ANTON CHEKHOV’S THE CHERRY ORCHARD AND JOHN OSBORNE’S LOOK BACK IN ANGER
Öz
Anton Pavlovich
Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard (1904)
depicting the lives of lower, middle and upper class Russian people at the very
beginning of the twentieth century reflects the clash that takes place between
these quite different social communities. About forty years after the
emancipation of the serfs, Russian nobility represented by Madame Ranevsky has
lost its financial power; so that, the last symbol of the glorious past, in
this case the cherry orchard, is to be bought by the newly arising middle class
identified with Lopahin. During the harsh struggle between these two classes,
the lower class resuming the old values is left behind just as the old man Firs
is forgotten at the end of the play. The result is the dawn of a new era with
its dramatic changes for everyone.
Turning back to
John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger (1956),
the theme of struggle within the society focuses on lower and middle classes.
Despite his great love for his wife Alison, Jimmy cannot cope with his inner
conflicts resulting from the inability to reconcile his lower class background
with that upper middle class of his wife. Therefore his anger never seems to
calm down. That is also why he wishes Alison’s baby to die and has an
intercourse with Alison’s close friend Helena. While the middle class people
are responsible for all evil in this life, Cliff contributes to that with his
ignorance and idleness sitting in the room. For Jimmy, all the desirable
qualities and values are situated in the working class. Jimmy’s anger stemming
from his obsession in the past and the responsibility he carries in himself to
make up for the mistakes of the previous generations prevent him from looking
forward. However, Alison’s return at the end of the play and the beginning of
the love game between the couple once again shows that there is still hope for
the future.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov John Osborne The Cherry Orchard Look Back in Anger lower class middle class social conflict change
Kaynakça
- BAEHR Stephen: (1999). “The Machine in Chekhov’s Garden: Progress and Pastoral in the Cherry Orchard”, The Slavic and East European Journal, 43, pp. 99–121.
- BARRICELLI Jean-Pierre: (1981). “Counterpoint of the Snapping String: Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard”, Chekhov’s Great Plays: A Critical Anthology, New York: New York University Press.
- BECKERMAN Bernard: (1971). “Dramatic Analysis and Literary Interpretation: The Cherry Orchard as Exemplum”, New Literary History, 2, pp. 391–406.
- BRAUN Edward: (2003). “The Cherry Orchard”, The Cambridge Companion to Chekhov, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
- CHEKHOV Anton Pavlovich: (1964). Chekhov: The Major Plays. Translated by Ann Dunnigan. New York, Signet Classics.
- DEER Irving: (1958). “Speech as Action in Chekhov’s ‘The Cherry Orchard’”, Educational Theatre Journal, 10, pp. 30–34.
- DYSON A. E.: (1968). “General Editor’s Comments,” John Osborne, Look Back in Anger: A Casebook, London, Macmillan.
- EVDOKIMOVA Svetlana: (2000). “What’s so Funny about Losing One’s Estate, or Infantilism in ‘The Cherry Orchard’”, The Slavic and East European Journal, 44, pp. 623–648.
- FERGUSSON Francis: (1967). “The Cherry Orchard: A Theater Poem of the Suffering of Change”, Chekhov: A Collection of Critical Essays, New York: Prentice-Hall.
- GOLDSTONE, Herbert: (1982). Coping With Vulnerability: The Achievement of John Osborne, New York: University Press of America.
- HAHN Beverly: (1979). Chekhov: A Study of the Major Stories and Plays, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- OSBORNE John: (1966). Look Back in Anger: A Play in Three Acts, London: Faber and Faber.
- ÖZTÜRK Emel: (1993). “Class Hate into Sexual Hate in Look Back in Anger”, MA Dissertation, Bilkent University.
- QUIGLEY Austin E.: (1997). “The Personal, The Political and The Postmodern in Osborne’s Look Back in Anger and Déjavu”, John Osborne: A Casebook, New York, Garland Publishing.
- TAYLOR John Russell: (1968). John Osborne, Look Back in Anger: A Casebook, London, Macmillan.
- TRUSSLER Simon: (1969). The Plays of John Osborne: An Assessment, London, Victor Gollancz.
- VALENCY Maurice: (1966). The Breaking String: The Plays of Anton Chekhov, New York, Oxford University Press.
Ayrıntılar
| Bölüm | Makaleler |
|---|---|
| Yazarlar | |
| Yayımlanma Tarihi | 20 Mart 2017 |
| Gönderilme Tarihi | 14 Mart 2017 |
| Yayımlandığı Sayı | Yıl 2017 |